How to switch my IP address to South Korea using a VPN

These days, most popular streaming services are geo-restricted, which means they can’t be accessed from outside of a specific location. Coupang Play, Wavve, and KBS1, for instance, are only available within Korea. The good news is that you can quickly and easily get a South Korean IP address with the help of a Virtual Private Network, or VPN.

VPNs work by encrypting your internet traffic, then sending this through a server somewhere else in the world. Your real IP address is hidden and replaced with one that points to the server’s country. In this case, you’d simply choose a server in South Korea, be assigned a South Korean IP address, and be able to access Korean services from anywhere in the world. Better still, since your data is encrypted, nobody, not even your ISP, can see what you get up to online.

Below, we’ll explain how to get a South Korean IP address from anywhere in the world. We’ll also suggest some of the best VPNs for the job. Here’s a quick look at our top providers but if any stand out to you, you can scroll down for a more detailed review of each.

What are the best VPNs for gaining a South Korean IP address?

1. NordVPN The best VPN for getting a South Korean IP address. Boasts a large network, powerful privacy features, and the ability to access virtually any streaming site. All plans include a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for South Korea.
2. Surfshark Our top budget VPN. Allows any number of connections and comes packed with advanced security tools. Perfect for streaming and gaming.
3. Total VPN This speedy, novice-friendly VPN offers strong security and plenty of servers in South Korea, plus incredible streaming ability. Doesn’t keep logs.
4. ProtonVPN A privacy-first service with one of the largest networks around. Very high speeds and excellent streaming ability, plus a no-logs policy.
5. ExpressVPN This quick and versatile VPN can handle anything you throw at it. Lots of South Korean servers, first-class streaming ability, and a generous connection limit.
6. IPVanish Speedy, reliable, and able to secure every device you own. Works with many South Korean streaming sites and offers 24/7 support via live chat.
7. CyberGhost A novice-friendly VPN with strong security tools, fast speeds, and an audited no-logs policy. Has lots of servers in South Korea and can block ads automatically.
8. PureVPN Makes it easy to get an IP address from South Korea. A solid all-round performer with impressive speeds and streaming abilities. Connect up to 10 devices at the same time.
9. Private Internet Access This customizable VPN offers steady speeds, intuitive apps, and a true no-logs policy. Its servers are spread over 90+ countries including South Korea.
10. PrivateVPN A uniquely privacy-focused VPN that works flawlessly with most Korean streaming platforms. Offers affordable plans, a high connection limit, and the ability to beat even the world’s strictest censorship.

How to get a South Korea IP address using a VPN in 2025

With the right VPN, getting an IP address from South Korea is very straightforward. Below, we’ll walk you through it.

Here’s how to get a South Korean IP address in 5 simple steps:

1. Begin by signing up for one of the VPNs listed below (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Download and install the app. There will be several different versions, so be sure to get the relevant one for your device.
3. Connect to any of your VPN’s South Korean servers. This will change your IP address to the desired location.
4. Try visiting a geo-blocked South Korean site. Content should load immediately.
5. If you experience problems, try clearing your cache and cookies and then refreshing the page.

Note: If you’d like to watch a particular event live, we highly recommend running through the steps above before it actually begins. In doing so, you ensure that if anything goes wrong, you’ll have time to contact customer support and fix it without missing anything.

How we selected the top VPNs for a South Korean IP

With so many competing VPNs, deciding which is best for a particular task is often difficult. With this in mind, when finding the best VPNs for getting a South Korean IP address, our team paid close attention to how each service performed in the following five categories:

• Speed: Your VPN has to be fast enough for anything. Here at Comparitech, we test servers at multiple times of day to get a better understanding of a provider’s speeds and how they vary during busier periods.
• Server availability: Firstly, we required VPNs to offer servers in South Korea. However, we also looked into how many other server locations they offer, since this determines which platforms you can theoretically access and reduces the average distance between you and the closest server.
• Security and privacy: We’ll never recommend VPNs that can’t adequately protect your privacy. As such, unbreakable encryption and safeguards like leak protection are non-negotiable. We also strongly prefer no-logs services.
• Ease of use: The more straightforward your VPN is to use, the better. Ideally, they’d “just work”, unblocking a wide range of content and making it as easy as possible to get help if anything goes wrong.
• Streaming ability: Most major streaming platforms have some form of VPN-detection, so it’s vital that yours is able to fly under the radar. Our team tests providers against a wide range of popular services to see how reliably they work.

This is just an overview, but you can find out more about how we test and rank the VPNs we recommend later in our methodology section.

The best VPN to get an IP address for South Korea compared

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for getting a South Korean IP in 2025.

The best VPN to get a South Korean IP address

At Comparitech, we never recommend a VPN that we haven’t used and rigorously tested ourselves. The following reviews are based on our first-hand experiences, so let’s take a closer look at the providers that impressed us.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for a South Korean IP address:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2025

NordVPN is the best option for getting a South Korean IP address abroad. Its network is made up of 8,000 servers in 120+ countries, with around a dozen in South Korea alone. It’s also one of the strongest where streaming is concerned, handily unblocking platforms like Amazon Prime Video, KBS1, and SBS. You can connect a maximum of 10 devices simultaneously, and support staff are on-hand 24 hours per day over live chat (though in our experience, this VPN is very newcomer-friendly).

NordVPN has a great reputation where performance is concerned, boasting a strong performance in our latest speed tests. That said, we wanted to see how reliable its South Korean servers were. Over the course of a day, this VPN averaged 137.57 Mbps, making it the quickest provider on this list. Not only that, but there was minimal variance based on the time of day we tested. In short, NordVPN is fast, consistent, and great for any task. Let’s see those results:

This service comes with a suite of advanced security features. There’s 256-bit encryption, an app-specific kill switch, and protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. That’s not all: NordVPN includes ad-blocking, malware-scanning, dual VPN, and Tor over VPN functionality, plus its own protocol named NordWhisper that can help you browse safely in countries like China, where extreme digital censorship is the norm. It doesn’t log any information that could identify you and has been audited several times.

NordVPN has apps for Windows, Android, Linux, macOS, and iOS devices. Its website provides manual configuration guides for a wide range of routers.

BEST VPN FOR SOUTH KOREA:NordVPN is our top choice. It’s a secure, speedy VPN that makes getting a South Korean IP address easy. Keeps no logs and comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our full review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is our top budget VPN. It has over 4,500 speedy servers spread across South Korea and 100+ other countries. As such, it’s a strong choice whether you’re looking to stream Korean platforms like KBS and SBS, or international content on services like Netflix. This VPN doesn’t limit the number of devices you can connect, making it fantastic value. What’s more, if anything goes wrong, you can quickly get help using Surfshark’s 24/7 live chat-based support service.

After years of using this service, we’ve come to expect first-class performance, and thankfully, the Korean servers didn’t disappoint. Our experts recorded an average speed of 131.14 Mbps across three tests, with only around 6 Mbps of difference between the highest and lowest results. So what does this mean for you? Simply, you’re unlikely to notice any performance issues regardless of the time of day or how many people in your household are using the internet.

Surfshark’s security toolkit has been steadily expanding over the last few years. It keeps you safe using 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, as well as a strict zero-logs policy. There’s also automatic ad and tracker-blocking, plus a new web-filtering tool that can stop you from seeing various kinds of child-unfriendly content. This VPN even works in places like China, provided the NoBorders mode is enabled. If you want to pay anonymously, Surfshark accepts Bitcoin, Ripple, and Ethereum.

Surfshark provides iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and macOS apps. It can also be manually configured for use with select network routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is a low-cost provider with reliable Korean servers, great unblocking ability, and no connection limit. Still not convinced? There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

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3. Total VPN

Total VPN is an affordable, well-respected provider with more than a decade of industry experience. Its network spans more than 80 countries, including South Korea, and we’ve had great results using it to access tricky platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video abroad. There is a five-connection limit, which is a little lower than we’d like, but still enough for most users. Customer support is available 24 hours per day via live chat or a ticket system.

If you need a Korean IP address, it’s likely you’re trying to stream, which is a high-bandwidth activity. So just how fast is this service? To find out, our experts tested its South Korean servers three separate times (once in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon) on a standard 250 Mbps connection. This also allowed us to see how much speed varied during peak times. You’ll find the results in the chart below:

With an average speed of 126.21 Mbps, this provider was highly competitive. In fact, only a handful of services we tested were faster. You’ll be able to watch live broadcasts or 4K video without any noticeable slowdown and should even be able to multi-task without too much trouble. There was only 11 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest results, too, which is fantastic.

Total VPN has all of the security features you’ll need to browse the web safely. This includes 256-bit AES encryption (currently considered uncrackable), a kill switch on every platform except Windows, and automatic protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. There’s also support for the Hydra protocol, which hides the telltale signs of VPN usage. Crucially, Total VPN refuses to keep any logs of your activities, too. There aren’t many advanced features, though users can allow certain sites to pass through unencrypted, which is helpful if you want to access Korean content and sites that are only available in your current location simultaneously.

Total VPN apps are available for Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS.

FAST AND VERSATILE:Total VPN is a great choice for everyday usage, working flawlessly with major streaming apps and offer speedy, reliable servers in South Korea. Long-term plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, while short-term customers can take advantage of a 14-day guarantee instead.

Take a look at our full Total VPN review.

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4. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is another great option for users trying to get an IP address from South Korea. It was created by the team behind the privacy-first email client, Proton Mail, and operates more than 15,000 servers in 120 countries. There are roughly 50 virtual servers that point to South Korea, and these work flawlessly with platforms like KBS1, SBS, and Mnet. Users can connect 10 devices at the same time, and if you have any trouble, staff are ready to help, 24/7, over live chat.

ProtonVPN reserves its fastest speeds (and the ability to specifically choose a Korean server) for users on the paid plan. So, is it worth upgrading? We’d say so; its speeds were among the highest we saw, averaging 130.46 Mbps over three tests. Now, the noon result was less than half the speed of the morning result, so there is definitely room for improvement. Still, ProtonVPN is quick enough to handle whatever you throw at it, from streaming KBS to playing online games.

Here are the full test results, side by side:

This provider has impeccable security credentials and refuses to compromise on your privacy. It uses AES-256 encryption as standard, backed up by DNS and IPv6 leak protection and a kill switch. ProtonVPN also has an obfuscated stealth protocol, automatic ad and tracker-blocking, and support for split tunneling (letting certain sites pass through unencrypted). Finally, it operates Secure Core servers that are housed in a high-security data center to minimize the risk of third-party interference. This VPN doesn’t keep any logs of your online activities.

ProtonVPN has its own apps for Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. What’s more, its website offers manual setup guides for all of the most common router firmware.

HIGHLY SECURE:ProtonVPN is a reliable and trusted VPN with servers in 85+ countries, including Korea. It works to access Korean streaming services abroad or while at work within Korea. Strong AES encryption and a kill switch.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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5. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a reputable, versatile provider with servers in more than 105 countries including South Korea. It works virtually anywhere in the world, so if you’re hoping to watch Korean TV in China, you’re in luck. In fact, we’ve had great results using this VPN with platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Hulu, so you’ll have plenty of options. Customer support is available via 24/7 live chat and thanks to a recent pricing restructure, you can now secure up to 10 devices on the Basic plan.

If you’re looking for a reliable service with speedy South Korean servers, ExpressVPN might just fit the bill. It might not be the fastest VPN out there, but it’s certainly competitive. For instance, our testing revealed average speeds of 97.07 Mbps on Korean servers. That’s enough to stream six 4K videos simultaneously or download a 1GB file in around a minute and a half. What’s even more impressive is that there was just 1.4 Mbps of variance across three tests! Check out the full results below:

ExpressVPN makes sure you’re properly protected. Its apps boast unbreakable 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and automatic protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks. Its obfuscation kicks in as required, with no need for the user to change any settings, and there’s even an Advanced Protection tab where you can block ads, trackers, suspicious sites, or adult content entirely. ExpressVPN has been audited to prove it doesn’t keep logs, and you can sign up almost completely anonymously by paying in Bitcoin and using a disposable email address.

A new tiered pricing system was recently added, so you can now select whichever level matches your budget and protection needs. ExpressVPN apps are available for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS. There’s also custom router firmware, making it easy to protect all of your devices at once.

FAST KOREAN SERVERS:ExpressVPN is a quick and reliable option for getting a South Korea IP address. It’s fast and secure, with excellent unblocking potential and a major focus on your privacy. It even includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of ExpressVPN.

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6. IPVanish

IPVanish has more than 3,200 self-owned servers in 100+ countries around the world, with around a dozen to choose from in South Korea. This provider is excellent for streaming and works with stubborn platforms like Netflix, KBS, and Amazon Prime Vide, to name but a few (though it doesn’t work in China, unfortunately). On the plus side, there’s 24/7 customer support via live chat, and users are able to secure every device they own at the same time. Not bad, considering IPVanish’s affordable price.

IPVanish has come a long way where performance is concerned and now sits close to the top of overall speed rankings. So, how reliable were its servers in South Korea? Extremely! We noted an average speed of 126.2 Mbps, which is more than enough for day-to-day tasks like watching live streams, downloading large files, or video chatting with people back home. The table below shows IPVanish’s speeds at varying times of day:

There’s no need to worry about your activities being intercepted or monitored when using IPVanish. This service keeps you safe using 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch that stops sending data if your connection drops, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. IPVanish also follows a true no-logs policy and offers ad and tracker-blocking, multi-hop servers, and even a tool that can tell if links are safe to open or not. It can scramble your OpenVPN traffic but note that this isn’t strong enough to beat country-wide censorship in places like China.

IPVanish’s Advanced plan is another huge selling point. It combines privacy, security, location control, and secure cloud storage in one bundle. With its secure cloud browser, you can use Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) to visit websites without using your own devices. This remote cloud-based browser keeps your browsing session sandboxed so that local networks and ISPs have no way to see what you are doing online.

You can use it to browse from 10 different countries. During our tests, we chose a US server, ran an IP test, and confirmed it provided a US IP address—perfect for accessing region-restricted sites.

This is particularly useful for users in censored regions who need US-based search results, access to educational platforms, or streaming services. However, the Secure Browser’s 30-hour monthly limit means that you will probably run out of data if you regularly use it for streaming.

If you plan to watch a lot of content, the full VPN is still the better option for location hopping. That said, anybody at work who is not able to install a VPN due to company policies, will be able to leverage this cloud-based browser to switch their IP address without installing anything, which can be a lifesaver.

The Advanced plan is extremely affordable, and costs about the same as standalone cloud storage from a company like Google. Seeing as Advanced subscribers get 1 TB of secure file storage, this effectively means that you’re getting the remote browser and one of the best VPNs on the market for free.

IPVanish has Windows, Android, Amazon Fire Stick/Fire TV, macOS, and iOS apps. Manual configuration is required for use with Linux systems and select network routers.

BROWSE SAFELY ANYWHERE:IPVanish is a fast, log-free, highly secure VPN with multiple servers in South Korea. Its lack of a connection limit makes it ideal for users looking to protect lots of devices at once. IPVanish plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

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7. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is known for its expansive network and exceptional unblocking abilty, so it’s a natural choice for anyone who needs a South Korean IP address. Unlike most of its rivals, this VPN actually tells you which servers are best for accessing platforms like Netflix Korea, Amazon Prime Video, or BBC iPlayer. In the unlikely event that you run into any problems, customer support staff are ready to help via the 24/7 live chat service. Each account permits up to seven simultaneous connections, which should be plenty for most people.

This provider generally performs very well in our industry-wide speed tests. When we specifically tried its South Korean servers, our team recorded an average speed of 112.77 Mbps. While it’s not the fastest provider we’ve seen, this is still a solid result, and well above what’s needed for playing games, watching TV shows, or torrenting. Here’s a breakdown of CyberGhost’s speeds at different times of day:

One of the best things about this VPN is that most of its security features are enabled by default. This includes CyberGhost’s 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and its kill switch, as well as the ad and tracker-blocking tool. CyberGhost has been audited to prove it doesn’t keep any logs and publishes regular transparency reports. It even allows users to create “smart rules” that tell the VPN to connect, open specific apps, or take other actions in certain situations. Note that while this VPN does have obfuscation abilities, these aren’t enough to browse safely in countries like China.

CyberGhost offers apps for macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, and Android. Select internet routers are also supported but require manual configuration.

POWERFUL VPN:CyberGhost is a fast, easy-to-use VPN offering reliable performance, affordable protection and access to several South Korean servers. It even comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our in-depth CyberGhost review.

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8. PureVPN

Dec 2025

PureVPN is a well-respected provider with plenty to offer. For starters, its network is made up of over 6,000 servers in 65 countries, with almost 50 in Seoul alone. It’s great for streaming too, unblocking Wavve, KBS1, and SBS as well as a wide range of international platforms such as BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and CBC.  Users are allowed to connect 10 devices at the same time, so it’s great for sharing with family. Live chat-based customer support is available around the clock, which is incredible given this VPN’s surprisingly low cost.

So far, so good. However, we still have to make sure that PureVPN is actually quick enough to handle everyday usage. Our team tested its South Korean servers three times, resulting in an average speed of 102.25 Mbps. This is well above the 15 Mbps needed for watching 4K content, and is quick enough to download a 1 GB file in a little over a minute. Let’s see PureVPN’s full speed test results:

Next, we decided to take a close look at this provider’s security features. Not only does it shield your activities with AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, PureVPN follows a strict no-logs policy and was the first major provider to undergo an independent audit. It offers automatic wifi protection, tracker-blocking, and port forwarding functionality, as well as support for the superfast WireGuard protocol. There’s even a Stealth mode in case you’re planning a visit to mainland China (or any other country with extreme censorship).

PureVPN offers its own apps for Linux, Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS. Its website also provides detailed setup guides for router installation.

LOW COST:PureVPN is a low-cost VPN that allows access to Korean services on vacation. It has servers in over 65 countries, including Korea to watch Kokowa, Wavve, Oksusu, TVer, and many others. Includes a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

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9. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is an extremely versatile provider with servers in more than 90 countries. It’s one of the best around where streaming is concerned, working perfectly with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, KBS, Hulu, and many more platforms. Unlike most of its competitors, Private Internet Access has no simultaneous connection limit, allowing you to secure every device you own at the same. Customer support is available via live chat, 24 hours per day.

So we know that Private Internet Access can access popular streaming sites. The question is whether it’s consistent enough to rely on – after all, nobody wants to miss a crucial moment of a live stream due to speed fluctuations. Thankfully, this VPN’s Korean servers were nice and quick, with an average speed of 58.18 Mbps. It was fastest in the morning, but even at other times of day, it remained speedy enough for data-intensive tasks. Here are our findings:

Thankfully, this provider has everything you’ll need to watch Korean TV securely. This includes 256-bit AES encryption (which experts agree is currently uncrackable), protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, and a kill switch which stops sending data if your connection drops suddenly. Private Internet Access has a zero-logs policy and has been audited twice, so you can use it without total peace of mind. It even offers multi-hop servers, split tunneling support, and port forwarding functionality, which is always great to see.

Private Internet Access has its own apps for Linux (GUI or command line), Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS. You’ll have to follow manual setup instructions to install this VPN on your router though.

ZERO-LOGS VPN:Private Internet Access offers steady speeds a wealth of security tools, and a no-logs policy. In other words, it’s perfect for streaming Korean TV without compromising on privacy. A 30-day money-back guarantee is included too.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

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10. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN might not be as well-known as some of the providers above but it does offer access to a network of 200 self-owned, self-hosted servers in 60+ countries. Not only that, it’s one of the best VPNs we’ve seen for streaming, and can reliably access South Korean platforms like KBS1, EBS TV, or TV Chosun from anywhere in the world. Up to 10 devices can be protected at the same time and customer support is available via live chat (though this isn’t quite 24/7 just yet).

PrivateVPN has never been the quickest provider on the market, but it does offer a level of consistency that few of its rivals can match. When we tested its South Korean server, we recorded an average speed of 48.04 Mbps, with less than 6 Mbps of variance. That’s pretty decent, especially as we’ve previously seen PrivateVPN struggle to limit speed loss across long distances. Let’s take a look at the complete test results:

Let’s talk about PrivateVPN’s security toolkit. To begin with, it offers adjustable encryption, allowing you to choose between 128-bit or 256-bit AES, depending on whether you want the highest-possible speeds or the strongest security. There’s also a customizable kill switch and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, plus a no-logs policy (though PrivateVPN hasn’t been audited at the time of writing). This VPN boasts a Stealth mode capable of beating China’s Great Firewall too, which isn’t something that most of its rivals can say.

PrivateVPN apps can be downloaded for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It works on Linux and select wireless routers with manual installation.

RELIABLE HIGH-SPEED BROWSING:PrivateVPN provides fast, consistent connections to its South Korean server and doesn’t keep any logs whatsoever. There’s even a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose by trying it.

Here’s our full review of PrivateVPN.

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Gaining an IP address from South Korea with a free VPN

It’s tempting to try and use a free VPN to gain an IP address for South Korea, and you’ll find plenty of providers promising you a quality service for free. Unfortunately, most of them are not worth your time; many of them won’t work, and those that do can be less secure than not using a VPN at all.

First, free VPNs are unlikely to have South Korean servers and are often the first to be blacklisted by popular services like Netflix, which makes free VPNs a poor choice for streaming South Korean content abroad. Also, they’ll usually have fewer servers than paid services but more users, meaning you can expect pages to load extremely slowly and video to buffer for long periods of time, if they load at all.

More concerningly, many free VPNs don’t offer any level of encryption, and they leak personal information over DNS. Some include malware, while others store tracking cookies on your device that allow them to keep track of which websites you visit and how often. This data is recorded over long periods of time, and once enough has been collected, it’s sold to advertisers, most commonly without your knowledge.

To be as safe as possible, we recommend using a reputable VPN that puts user privacy first. But if you’re set on getting a South Korean IP address for free, here are a few tips on doing so safely.

How to get a South Korean IP address with a free VPN:

• Opt for a VPN that offers a free trial. These range from 1 – 7 days, which could be enough if you just want to be protected for a short time.
• Make the most of the money-back guarantees of the providers we’ve listed here. They range from 30 to 45 days, so they should be enough to cover you for a vacation or short work trip. Unlike free trials, you do have to pay upfront but can rest assured that if you’re not 100% happy with the service, you can claim a full refund. Check out our step-by-step guide to claiming a full refund from NordVPN to see how simple it is.
• Another option is to choose a reputable VPN with a basic free version, such as Windscribe, ProtonVPN, or ExpressVPN’s new free offering, EventVPN. These VPNs have limited server locations on their free tiers, so you probably won’t be able to use them to gain a South Korean IP. However, they are reputable, secure providers, so if you just want to stay secure online for free, they are worth considering.

Other ways to get a South Korean IP address

If you’d rather not use a Virtual Private Network to spoof your location and get an IP address from South Korea, there are a couple of alternative options. Below, we’ll cover these and explain the pros and cons of each method.

Method 1: Use a proxy server

A proxy server is essentially a middleman between you and the site you’d like to visit. You simply find one that’s based in South Korea, direct it to a given website, and you should be able to access it as though you were actually in Korea yourself.

While this approach is easy and doesn’t require you to install anything, proxy servers are generally quite slow and sometimes struggle to load JavaScript properly, which means certain websites may not work correctly. Further, whoever owns the proxy server can see everything you get up to on standard HTTP sites.

Method 2: Use the Tor network

Another way to get a South Korean IP address is to use the Tor Browser. When creating a new identity, you’ll be assigned a new IP address — you could either try this until you get one that points to Korea, or alternatively, amend the torcc file at “Browser\TorBrowser\Data\Tor\torcc” to specify a desired location. For South Korea, you’d have to add the following lines:

ExitNodes {KR}
StrictNodes 1

Be advised that the Tor Browser is extremely slow, however, and not generally designed for browsing regular everyday websites. Further, given the amount of crime that occurs on the dark web, even using the Tor Browser could give authorities an excuse to examine your online activity more closely.

Internet restrictions in South Korea

South Korea has fairly extensive internet censorship. Sites hosting pornography, pro-North Korean material, unrated games (whether or not you can gamble on the outcome), or criticism of the South Korean government are routinely blocked by the Korea Communication Standards Division. This organization’s 2017 report (PDF) shows that it approved 66,659 of 91,853 applications for blocking.

Additionally, unlike in other parts of the world, South Korean law does not consider the truth to be a valid defense against defamation: if a person’s reputation is damaged by what you post, you can still be charged. These laws are often used to silence critics of the government or those who reveal information that is arguably in the public interest.

If you think something you post might get you in trouble, check out our guide to blogging and posting anonymously.

Gaining a South Korean IP address with a VPN: FAQs